December 28, 2016

Demetri Raftopoulos examines which NFL wide receivers and tight ends saw a surprisingly high number of targets in Week 16 of the fantasy football season and could become a desirable waiver target and add for Week 17.

This article is catered to those in leagues heading into a fantasy championship in Week 17, and for daily fantasy players. Week 17 is always tricky considering who is playing for what at this point in the season. This should clear all that up a bit.

Here is a look at the surprise target grabbers from Week 16, and a look at possible wide receiver breakout options for Week 17 based on the usage they are seeing in the passing game. You can ask me more waiver wire and game day questions on Twitter @DemetriRafto.

Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive BOTH our full season NFL and NBA Premium Passes for free, a $119.99 value. Just email [email protected] with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium Passes.

Surprise Week 16 Target Grabbers

Doug Baldwin - (WR, SEA)

To start, seeing Doug Baldwin on this list is probably a surprise to some considering how steady his production has been all season. Baldwin producing shouldn't be a surprise. Although, what popped my eyes wide open were his career-high 19 targets in Week 16 against the Arizona Cardinals, 14 coming after Tyler Lockett left the game early. Baldwin reeled in a career-best 13 receptions for 171 yards and a score, turning in his best fantasy showing of the season.

Lockett, although not as consistent as Baldwin throughout the campaign, saw six or more targets in four straight games prior to breaking his leg in Week 16. Despite clinching the division several weeks back, the Seahawks are still fighting for a highly coveted first-round bye, and should be fully equipped against the San Fransisco 49ers. Baldwin makes for a no-brainer play in daily fantasy.

Adam Thielen - (WR, MIN)

Adam Thielen's productivity has stayed under the radar all the season. Until last week, that is. In an offensive battle with the Green Bay Packers, Thielen did all he could to keep Minnesota's playoff hopes alive, reeling in 12-of-15 targets for 202 yards and two touchdowns; all career highs. Barely owned in most fantasy leagues, Thielen is now just 40 receiving yards shy of reaching 1,000 in his breakout campaign, and should surpass the immortal millennium mark in Week 17 against the Chicago Bears. His price has likely risen a bit in daily fantasy, but he should be used in all tournaments as well.

Cody Core - (WR, CIN) 

In the absences of A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert, Brandon LaFell exploded for 130 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Boyd was lackluster in a matchup that will only be remembered by a missed field goal. Yet, another unlikely name raised some eyebrows on Cincinnati. Cody Core was targeted 14 times in Saturday night's loss to the Houston Texans, and reeled in an impressive eight of them. It was easily his best showing of the season, but he only accumulated 39 yards, while seven of his eight receptions came in the first half. Even with both Green and Eifert likely shut down for the season, Core is a tough guy to trust in both seasonal and daily formats.

Possible Week 17 Breakout Options

Jermaine Kearse - (WR, SEA)

With Tyler Lockett out for Week 17's matchup against the Niners, look for Russell Wilson to target Doug Baldwin heavily. Baldwin will be busy, although let's not forget about Jermaine Kearse as he too should benefit from the absence in Seattle's receiving core. After Lockett went down, Kearse turned in his best showing of the season, finishing the day with four catches on nine targets for 37 yards and a touchdown; his first of the year. Kearse regressed a bit this season after his five-touchdown campaign in 2015, but is still a reliable option for a team looking for an oh so important first-round bye.

Anquan Boldin - (WR, DET)

The way you beat the Green Bay Packers is the same way they beat you, with the same formula Aaron Rodgers has been using throughout the team's five-game winning streak. Throw, throw, throw. We can expect Matthew Stafford to do just that against a shaky Green Bay secondary in a game that will crown a division champion. Golden Tate and Eric Ebron are both obvious options, but the ageless Anquan Boldin has quietly put together a seven-touchdown season and has been a reliable red zone option for Stafford and the Lions. It also helps that the Packers have allowed the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers on the season.

Jared Cook - (TE, GB) 

Cook missed Weeks 5-10 with injury this season, and returned with an exclamation point in Week 11; six catches on 11 targets for 105 yards and a touchdown. That was the best it got for Cook, as the tight end failed to find the end zone in his next five contests, but remained a decent part of a high-powered Green Bay offense. This week against the Detroit Lions, it's do or die for the Cheese Heads, win or go home. Aaron Rodgers will be looking to use all his weapons against a Lions team that was recently torched for 42 points against the Dallas Cowboys. Note: Jason Witten caught a touchdown against Detroit this past Monday night.

Other Options: Marqise Lee (WR, JAX) @ IND, Brandon LaFell (WR, CIN) vs BAL, Eric Ebron (TE, DET) vs GB